Email

IN some ways, Pakistan can be considered the gift that just keeps on giving; the scale of blunders continues to grow, and little seems to be learned. The New Islamabad International Airport, the foundation stone of which was laid nearly a decade ago during the Musharraf regime, is after a series of delays and cost overruns, nearing completion —Dec 25, 2016, is the date being given by the Civil Aviation Authority. Shockingly, however, it is only at this late stage that a scandalous flaw in design has come to light. It has two parallel runways, which would allow aircraft to land or take off at the same time, which in turn would improve airport efficiency. But, these runways have been constructed at a distance of 200 metres from each other, while the standard set to allow concurrent landings and take-offs is one kilometre. In short, as the CAA director general informed the Public Accounts Committee in Islamabad on Thursday, it will not be possible for the new airport to handle concurrent aircraft movement. If the head of the CAA admits that the design flaw should have been corrected at the initial stage but was overlooked, it would have taken nothing short of effrontery to do so.

While this may indeed be a “criminal error”, as a PAC member termed it, the tale of monumental ineptitude does not end here. According to the CAA’s own audit report, presented to the PAC the same day, none of the 12 engineering management consultants hired for the airport project hold engineering degrees. Instead, they possess a bewildering galaxy of irrelevant certificates: homeopathy, business administration, technology — and some hold only basic Bachelor’s degrees. Were this not bad enough, according to the CAA audit report, the unsatisfactory performance of these gentlemen was in part responsible for the Rs19.39 billion cost overrun of the airport project, in addition to “different packages [being] awarded without due consideration [and] lack of coordination in execution of [the] package”.

Are these failings a case of inefficiency or corruption? Either way, the result is disgraceful and the matter requires being looked into. It is difficult to believe that such glaring inconsistencies managed to be overlooked by those who are required to execute a project of this scale — and, indeed, by the three successive governments under whose oversight the construction of the new Islamabad airport is now approaching completion. The project was earlier mired in controversy when its physical location became a matter of debate, with another location altogether coming under consideration. Now mismanagement and the wastage of funds have joined the list of talking points. The CAA needs to come up with a convincing explanation, and the parties responsible for such colossal blunders need to be identified and, if necessary, prosecuted. Bungling on such a large scale cannot be overlooked.

Comments (29) Closed

In the United States, the FAA has published Advisory Circular 150/5300-13A, Airport Design , which includes recommendations for parallel runway separation.

In summary,

"For simultaneous landings and takeoffs using VFR, the minimum separation between centerlines of parallel runways is 700 feet (213 m)."
For simultaneous IFR operations, "Dual simultaneous precision instrument approaches are normally approved on parallel runway centerline separation of 4,300 feet (1311 m). On a case-by-case basis, the FAA will consider proposals utilizing separations down to a minimum of 3,000 feet (914 m) where a 4,300 foot (1311 m) separation is impractical. This reduction of separation requires special high update radar, monitoring equipment, etc." Note: Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approaches allow as little as 750 ft between runway centerlines.
International regulations do differ. ICAO have their own standards

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Amir Ali Khan

May 08, 2016 09:47am

This is yet another example of mismanagement and negligence on the part of people involved in such big projects . Why the standard distance between two runways for concurrent landing was not noticed at the designing stage ? Was it a professional mistake or a deliberate oversight ? And who hired these engineering consultants ? A person as consultant with homeopathy certificate ? Efficiency par excellence ! Its ridiculous to say the least.But let us not be surprised,because this is how,with a few exceptions here and there,this country has been run. GOD save Pakistan.

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ABC from India

May 08, 2016 10:57am

I has to read the article twice, just to be sure!!

But atleast the flaw was discovered BEFORE a catastrophe. For that general public has to be thankful!

Mumbai has a new airport coming up at Panvel. Hope every technical detail has been double checked!!!

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Asif Jamil

May 08, 2016 12:13pm

Absolutely mind blowing!!!! Is it really true?

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Ahsan

May 08, 2016 12:23pm

Strange, the world's busiest airport the Dubai international airport has distance of 450 meters between the two parallel runways and mind you the traffic is always high with A380 all the time landing and taking off one after another.

Are we expecting the same from Islamabad Airport in terms of the traffic?

Author of the article must atleast do some homework before publishing this piece of work.

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Parvez

May 08, 2016 01:31pm

As an ex ATCO, I can't believe that someone designed and some people approved two parallel runways just 200m apart. There is more than that meets the eye.

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Sr

May 08, 2016 02:21pm

@Ahsan but as you said 450 is more than twice the distance of 200 meters. There will be huge issues if at same time both landing and take off happens. You may defend it here but world aviation may look at the same way as editorial. Islamabad airport may be shunned by most of operators if landing and take off happens at same time

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M. Siddique

May 08, 2016 04:54pm

O! Lord, is this incompetency at its height? Engineering consultants especially the one who approved the drawings must be held accountable. Shameful.

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Shahid

May 08, 2016 05:02pm

What a 'parallel'! Take off and landing runways merely 200 m apart. Is this 200 m from center to center of from inner edge to inner edge? Consultants and their mix of qualifications is certainly not amusing. Hope it is not true. But then it is Pakistan where business and governance also run in parallel without any separation. Business always takes off and governance stays grounded. Parallels in consultants here also are interesting. One model fits all with the same results.

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Kushal Das

May 08, 2016 05:04pm

@Ahsan I think keeping a distance of 1 KM between parallel runways might be overkill, but 200m is simply just too short! No international flight operators like BA, Emirates etc will agree to land in parallel runway under that conditions. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that 200m won't cut it.

I won't say anything about the educational qualifications of those 12 gentlemen.

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hm

May 08, 2016 06:42pm

This needs to be thoroughly investigated by international experts and if turned out to be true, then all responsible and involved get exemplary punishment.
We need to get rid of corruption. Agree with Gen Raheel Sharif comparing corruption to terrorism.

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citizen

May 08, 2016 06:59pm

This shows the pathetic condition of our bureaucracy..How a poor country like India executed air ports par international at Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi in record time ? Both Hyderabad and Bangalore airports are getting international ranking consistently..People must be lucky to get a good corruption free government and bereaucrates...We are not lucky..but how long?

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Agha Ata

May 08, 2016 07:13pm

Such a huge mistake in such an enormous project? Unbelievable. But that little news of having "Homeopathy" certificates did bring a smile on my face.
I am looking for a good Homeopath. I am sure you have the name of the specific person who has this certificate. I wonder if you can recommend me as his patient, or give us his name. Maybe his services ae needed elsewhere.

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Asit Ghosh, Mumbai

May 08, 2016 08:05pm

The engineering handbook on minimum separation of runways says: "ILS to parallel runways spaced by less than 900 m should be suspended under adverse weather conditions such as thunderstorms, which increase ILS localiser deviations to the extent that safety may be impaired. A minimum separation of 1535 m is mandatory."

When a separation of even 900 m is not enough, how the hell did they keep it 200 m ? Even on a clear day the ILS will get confused and might take the wrong runway. This is absurd to the extreme.

For Mumbai 2nd airport, this issue has led to a war between Govt. agencies and environmentalists. The AAI's move to reclaim mangroves and some part from the sea to get a separation of 1535 m incorporated in the design was opposed tooth and nail by the green brigade. Now the Supreme Court has ordered that AAI will first transplant 500 hectares of mangrove in a nearby coastline and only after they show signs of survival after a year that AAI shall start land-filling.

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Vijay

May 08, 2016 08:13pm

Relax. It's only money.

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Shahzad Ikhlaq

May 08, 2016 08:49pm

Am i dreaming or did i really read what i just read?? UNBELIEVABLE, simply unbelievable.

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wellwisher

May 08, 2016 09:09pm

only in very busy airports like Atlanta,Chicago,Heathrow and Dubai landing and take off happens simultaneously.At others, second runway is for standby use, in case one is under repair or damaged by accidents.I feel the facts should be rechecked before commenting.

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A Universal Citizen

May 08, 2016 09:34pm

Engineering Council of Pakistan (ECP) issues certificates valid up to 1 year for fresh graduates, clearly mentioning that those graduates can sell their certificates to engineering companies, in between fifty thousand to three hundred thousands. These engineering companies simply show these certificates while getting contracts and hire non professionals (Homeopathy, IT and MBA degree holders) instead of those certified professionals. This all is done by the consent and acceptance of ECP.

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kublai

May 08, 2016 09:35pm

@Amir Ali Khan God saves those who save themselves..maybe a lil less reliance on God and a lil more education would save matters

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kublai

May 08, 2016 09:38pm

@Ahsan but u do understand the difference between 200 and 450 meters?..with objects hurtling towards each other at 100 mph..

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Najeebullah Larik

May 08, 2016 10:01pm

No problem. We have many many motorways built by blacksmith instead of engineers. Plans can land and take off easily from these motorways.

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Naseem

May 08, 2016 10:10pm

We should have employed the planners of Delhi Airport.

Also take stern action against officials who knowingly appointed staff that lacked appropriate qualifications.

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Dara Sanwal

May 08, 2016 10:34pm

There is no need for 2 runways operate simultaneously in first place... airports many times the size of this new airport such as London's Gatwick airport operate on only one runway at a time for both takeoffa and landings. Islamabad airport will see nowhere near that much traffic so one runway operating at a time is more than enough.

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Hussain

May 08, 2016 11:25pm

Awful! Project managed absurdly.

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Kashif

May 09, 2016 02:18am

In the US the FAA doesnt own the airports or is responsible in any way for their construction. Rather the cities themselves own the airports and are responsible for them. The CAA should be striped of its powers to run airports. Authority should be transferred to the city governments.

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Azhar jamil

May 09, 2016 06:11am

Shocking!
The whole country is suffering from mismanagement and corruption since last six decades. Who's prosecuted?

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Pervez

May 09, 2016 09:20am

I simply refuse to believe this. I think it was awarded throughg an international competitive bidding process. The consultants were a foreign company. If true ....it is outrageous.

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Helga Ahmad

May 09, 2016 01:09pm

Surprising. The error was already known more than five years ago and despite it construction continued?